Educating At-Risk Urban African American Children: The Effects of School Climate on Motivation and Academic Achievement

Fenzel, L. Mickey; O'Brennan, Lindsey M.

Online Submission, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, Apr 12, 2007)

The present study examines the mediating effects of student intrinsic motivation and teacher ratings of student academic engagement on the relation between school climate perceptions and student academic performance among 282 urban African American middle school students. Results provided support for the hypothesized model and suggest the importance that a school environment that the students find fair and enjoyable has on academic engagement among urban students placed at risk. Results also suggest the important role that teachers play in establishing such a climate. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)